CEO MONTHLY / Chairperson Awards 2022 14 Textile Manufacturing Chairman of the Year (Western Europe): David Whelan The role of a chairperson requires hard work, dedication, and a keen eye for detail. The kind of businesses that provide revolutionary products are the ones pushing boundaries with unique ideas and attitudes to match. Footfalls and Heartbeats (FHL) is one of those businesses looking to better the world – and it does so with its innovative manufacturing processes. FHL’s Chairman, David Whelan, offers insight into what it takes to run such an innovative company. ootfalls and Heartbeats Limited (FHL) has developed a revolutionary manufacturing process that allows the control and manipulation of yarnto-yarn interaction and the movement of micromechanical structures that form the basics of knitted fabrics. FHL has established a revolutionary and patented knitting technology, where literally, “The Textile is the Sensor”. Built with, and monitored by, machine learning, this innovation avoids the need for embedded electronics, wires and solidstate sensors to create a structure that can measure tensile and compressive forces without the need for intrusive technology. With applications within health, sports, transportation, defence, and so much more, it cannot be understated how breathtakingly impressive – and versatile – this invention is. The company’s Chairman, David Whelan, further expands on the revolutionary system, “Our USP is that the textile itself is the sensor, there is no need for wiring, as our sensors are integral to the knitted textile. Our goals are to provide the world with wearable and touchable technology that is both invisible to the naked eye, and that feels just the same as a normal textile. Perhaps even more significantly, they can be manufactured using standard processes and yarns, with a minimal impact on the cost of goods.” His passion for the company is noticeably clear. David comments, “Since the company was established, we have developed even smarter technology which can be incorporated into any knitted textile or even composite material.” In discussing the company’s journey, David highlighted that its innovations had an almost alienating effect in its earlier years that FHL graciously overcame. He says, “One could say that our smart fabric technology, conceptualised and developed by our founding director, was way ahead of its time when we first started the business and as a result in the initial years. We found difficulty in gaining commercial traction for something that appeared to be simply “out of this world”.” The early days saw FHL working to convince the market that its truly unique product wasn’t ‘too good to be true’ and, now it has passed this hurdle, it has blossomed. David shares, “Having produced prototypes and demonstrated our products around the world, we are now in an enviable position where companies find us rather than the other way around.” David has an incredible wealth of experience within the Industry and the company specifically. He has served in a chair role for over 14 years, with his prior experience including being the CEO of a multitude of companies. He has sourced information and expertise on his position from companies and Chairs across the globe. As FHL’s chairman, David was eager to share a smattering of fascinating insights regarding his time thus far, “Since joining the company seven years ago as Chairman, I have had to take on various roles within the company from FD to CEO. Now that the company is established and with the recruitment of key individuals, I have been able to take on the pure Chairman role, working with the Board to develop a robust future strategy for the company and working closely with the CEO to fulfil this strategy.” This is an exemplary showcase of why he was chosen for the position in the first place. Even in a less-than-ideal scenario, David was confident and flexible enough to take on the responsibilities required to keep the business moving. In addition to this, he was also able to keep FHL thriving as well. In addition, FHL’s worldclass textile sensing technology will also allow for real-time monitoring of individual rehabilitation from musculoskeletal injuries, whether chronic condition, age or sport related. Other areas of potential application include miniaturising textilebased medical devices, infant monitoring, pressure Sep22007 F
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